Rosie's Games

Dorothy's face shifted between discomfort and awkwardness as she patted Rosalind's back, but this wasn't enough to stop Rosalind from wailing, attracting everyone's attention around them.

Rosalind's constant crying left Dorothy speechless.

"What is happening?"

Rosalind sniffed and finally let her older sister go.

"Who would make too much noise at the entrance of the Lux Mansion?"

The one who spoke was none other than her very own father, the Marquess Martin Lux— the current patriarch of the Lux Family. Outside of these walls, however, the people know him as the one who received the Blessing of the light.

Rosalind eyed him.

Blond hair, blue eyes, and white clothes with the insignia of the Lux Family. In his late thirties, the man was able to maintain his youthful appearance because of his Blessing.

Rosalind quickly lowered her head.

It was him.

Her very own father.

In the past, Martin Lux was the last one who knew about the fact that it was actually Rosalind who received the Blessing and not Dorothy, but he did nothing about it. After all, Dorothy was already the Queen when Martin accidentally found out that it was Rosalind and not Dorothy who had been doing all the healing during a plague that would happen in the near future.

Martin, while always stern and well-known for following rules, was forced to choose between exposing his eldest daughter, the Queen, or playing along with the lie.

Clearly, he chose the latter.

Until now, Rosalind could never forget the confusion in her father's eyes every time he looked at her. The man always wondered why she was able to receive the Blessing when she wasn't born with blond hair and blue eyes like the other member of the Lux Family.

Next to Martin Lux was the previous patriarch, Federico Lux. The man had given up the patriarch position so he could work as the closest aid of the Emperor. Just like Martin, Federico was the one who received the Blessing in his generation.

This was the reason why he only looked like he was still in his late forties when, in fact, he was already in his sixties.

"Father… mother and younger sister just arrived." Dorothy curtsied.

Almost immediately, Rosalind felt everyone's eyes on her.

"I — " she looked at Dorothy and gave an awkward curtsy. "I am Rosalind Lux. I— I am the second daughter of the— "

"We know who you are!" Federico hissed. She knew this was because of her red dress. Federico hated the color and announced to everyone not to wear it when he was around. It was said that even the current emperor would avoid wearing the color when Federico was accompanying him.

Yes.

Even the current monarch respected the Lux Family because of their Blessing.

"I— " Rosalind didn't waste any chance to tear up. "I apologize to grandfather. This granddaughter did not learn her manners in the mountains. This granddaughter spent her time trying to survive in the wilderness instead. I— "

"Shut your mouth!" Federico said. "Are you trying to blame the Lux Family for sending you to the wilderness?"

"I— " Rosalind's tears started falling. Crying is exhausting, she thought inwardly.

"Grandfather, please be lenient on Rosalind. She just came back from the mountains. It wasn't her fault that she didn't learn any etiquette while she was away for years."

Rosalind nodded as if she didn't understand the hidden meaning behind Dorothy's words. Dorothy was actually emphasizing the fact that Rosalind had left for years! Despite this, she didn't even learn etiquette. As expected, Federico snorted.

"I am leaving," Federico said before he walked away.

"Dorothy, take your sister to her room," Martin said and soon, he too vanished without even greeting Rosalind.

"Rosalind, I know this isn't the environment that you had expected, but father has been very busy lately. The Duke of the North is coming and I heard father and grandfather will be the ones who will welcome him. I really hope you didn't take everything to heart."

Rosalind sobbed and used her hand to wipe the tears away from her face.

"Shall we go to your rooms?" Dorothy held Rosalind's hand and pulled her toward the back of the mansion. Her room wasn't located in the mansion, but in a smaller residence at the back of the mansion.

The residence was a small one that was meant to be Rosalind's house while she stayed there. It was near the maze-like garden where she first met the Baron.

It was also near the small forest and lake at the back of the mansion, where she found that purple plant in the past.

Aside from this, the residence had access to an exit that the servants and maids used to buy some things that the mansion needed.

Because of this, the place was always noisy.

In the past, Rosalind couldn't help but complain and told Dorothy that she wanted to stay with her. Dorothy used this opportunity to create a show for Rosalind. She begged her father to move Rosalind next to her room. Obviously, this captured Rosalind's heart. She thought Dorothy was the only person who love her in the Lux household.

It seems that they prepared the same house for her.

Though this time, she wasn't planning on complaining.

"This— " Rosalind stopped walking when she saw the two-story house with four bedrooms. One was her bedroom, one was the study and the final two room were set aside for guests. Obviously, it was all for show.

Rosalind didn't have friends, and she was certain that the Lux Family would never let their guests sleep in this house.

"Sister?" Dorothy stopped walking when she saw Rosalind's eyes. "Is something the matter?"

"No… I just… this house is so beautiful." And simple, but it was exactly what she needed right now. A remote house where she could easily disguise herself as one of the maids and leave through the back gate. It was just perfect for her plans.

"R— Really?" Dorothy said as they opened the door. "Right now, the other members of the Lux Family have arrived, and the mansion is a little crowded. Father insisted they let you stay in a smaller room with another member of the family, but I told him to just give you this house instead."

As always, Dorothy was smiling at her.

"Thank you," Rosalind said. "This house is bigger than where I lived in the mountains!"

"Do you like it?"

The house had very simple decorations. Every piece of furniture was just made of wood and there was no gold or velvet, which would be unusual for someone who is a member of the Lux Family.

Seeing this, Rosalind was sure that Dorothy purposely did this to make her sound like an ungrateful brat for complaining even after receiving some kindness from the family.

"Yes! Yes, I do! I would love to live here forever!" Rosalind said, an innocent smile plastered across her face.

.....

Please add Eve's Gambit to your library. It has the same World as Rosie's Games but you can read it separately. There will be mentions and of course, the reason why Rosie reincarnated will be included in that novel! Thanks